Fire-protection device.



R. B. HEWITT & J. G. NOLEN.

FIRE PROTECTION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APE.6, 1907.

Patented June 27, 1911.

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UNITED $TATES FATE/NT QFFICE RICHARD B. HEWITT AND JAMES G. NOLEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; S AID NOLEN ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO FRANKB. COOK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-PROTECTION DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J nne 27,1911.

Original application filed May 23, 1903. Serial No. 159.232. Dividedand this application filed April 6, 1907.

= Serial No. 366,889.

certain new and useful Improvements iui Fire-Protection Devices, of which the following 1s a specification.

This application constitutes a division of 1 our application for patent for automatic fire extinguisher and signaling system, filed May i lattcrs magnetism being normally completely absorbed by the armature 100. The

29th, 1903, Serial No. 159,232.

()ur invention relates to it re protection systems and has for its salient object to provide a new and improved circuit controlling device, comprising a part for inclusion in or connnunication withthe interior of the piping system, and electric circuit controlling contacts entirely outside of the piping,

controlled by the movable part within the piping, the construction involving no movable parts extending through the piping.

Other and further objects of our invention will become. ap intent to those skilled in the artfrom the to lowing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying.drawing, wherein,

Figure 1 illustrates in fragmentary section portions of a fire extinguisher piping system, and associated devices; Fig. is a transverse section on line '2--2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, 1 indi cates a fragment of a riser constituting part of the piping system of an automatic lire extinguisher system, and having at some suitable point in communication therewith, a structure 75, comprising a tube 98 screwed into the side of the riser and containing a' swinging float 99. The float typifies any suitable movable elementwithin the piping system, movable in response, to changes oi condition in such system. This float carries, for movement therewith, a soft iron armature 100, which we may term the controlling armature, adapted to rest normally in contact with the poles of the permanent magnet-101,

which is permanently and stationarily se-' cured in such relation to the tube 98 that its poles cxtendthrough the tube 98 and are exposed at or beyond the interior surface thereof. Obviously the tube 98 or that portion thereof immediately sm'rounding the poles ot the permanent magnet should be of diamagnotic material, such as brass. \Vithout-the tube 98, is arranged a second soft iron armature 102, which we may term the responsive armature, normally unattracted by the permanent magnet by reron of the responsive armature 102 is mounted on a lever 103 for pivotal movement, as suggestively illustrated in Fig. 2, and is normally spring-held in retracted position.

76 indicates spring contacts, one whereof is connected. to the lever 103 for movement therewith. The arrangement, of course, should be such that the movement of the armature 102- into contact with the magnet 101 is sufficientto cause the-change in the circuit conditions established throughgcontacts 76, thatis to say, to break the connection it the contact is normally closed or to make the connection if the contact is norguishing system, the movement oi said float 99 forcibly withdrawing the. armature 100' from contact and proximity with the poles of magnet 101. This withdrawal of-the controlling armature 100 from the magnet occasions an increase in the effect of the magnet upon the armature 102, which-we may term the responsive armature, which is ac-.

cordingly'attracted to the magnetand which by its movement causes the operation of the circuitcontrolling springs.

On the-return of .the float and its armature to normal position the magnetic lines of force are short circuited through the controlling armature, and the magnetic attraction for armature 102 so diminished that. the la tter is retracted by its spring. Thus it will be seen that the device described is of a character to open and close the circuit, in response to movements of a part within the closed piping system without the use of any mow able parts extending through the piping, or through the tubing 98, magnetism con stituting the medium of association between the float or other movable device within the inclosed piping, and the external circuit controlling parts. For protection of the external parts of the device, we may provide a casing 104 secured to the part 98 by a suit able padlock 105.

Obviously the circuit controlling device which we have described may be applied in diverse ways for various purposes, where the making or breaking of an electric circuit may be utilized to control machines or devices the action whereofshould respond to changes of conditions within-the sprinkler system.

In the suggestive showing in Fig. 1, 4 indicates a fragment of a valve shell, the interior whereof may at times be under pressure, and 4 a port therein,which it may be desira ble to open to relieve the pressure whenever the float 99, heretofore described is raised by the flow of water. The port 4 is normally closed by a valve member 84;, carried by pivoted lever 83, the free extremity whereof bears a responsive armature 82, associated with and normally magnetically maintained in contact with a permanent magnet 81. A second controlling armature 80 is provided and arranged in proximity to, but out of contact with the pole of the magnet 81, such armature 80 being pivotally mounted and connected through a link 80 with an armature 7 9 of an electromagnet 78. A convenient circuit arrangement for connection of the electromagnet 78, and the circuit closer 76, is illustrated diagrammatically. In such illustration 9 indicates a battery as a suitable source of electric supply, and 15 and 21 indicate line wires leading to opposite terminals of the coil of electromagnet 78. 77 indicates a shunt, or short circuit bridging the wires 15 and 21 and including therein the contact points 76.

In operation it will be seen that normally the electromagnet 78 is substantially.

denergized, as it is short circuited by the shunt 77, closed through contacts 76. WVhen, however, the float 99 moves and contacts 7 G are'broken, as heretofore described, current flows through the magnet 78 energizing it and causing it to attract its armature 79, which through its mechanical connection 80 draws over the controlling armature 80 into contact with the permanent magnet 81, decreasing the magnetic effect upon the responsive armature 82, which is practically released through the magnetic short circuit afforded by an armature 80, so that the valve member 8th is no longer held with any degree of force to close the port at, and fluids under pressure restrained by said valve 81 may readily escape therepast.

While we have herein described in some detail a specific embodiment of our invention, we do not desire to be understood as limiting ourselves to the particular use or the specific construction herein described further than as specified in the claims.

Having thus described our invention, what' we claim and desire ;to secure by Letters Patent, of the United States, is:

1. The combination with a liquid receptacle, of a bi-polar magnet having its polar extremities projecting into the receptacle, a floatable armature confined within the receptacle, arranged to travel in alinement with the polar extremities toward and from the latter, and a spring retractable armature outside'of the casing, arranged for attraction by the magnet when the floatable armature is remote from the magnet poles.

2. The combination of a liquid receptacle,

.abipolar magnet having its poles project; in through the receptacle, an armature p1v-:=

oted within the receptacle for movement .in the plane of the magnet into or out of contact with its poles, an armature pivoted without thev receptacle, and signaling means controlled by said second armature.

3. The combination of a closed receptacle, a bi-polar magnet having itspolar e'xtremities presented to the receptacle, anarmature within the receptacle spanning the magnet poles and moving toward and from their ends in substantially the plane of the magnet; an armature without the receptacle, spanningthe magnetpolcs and movable toward and from their sides at some distance from their extremities; and signaling means responsive to movements of the last said armature.

4-. The combination with a vertical water pipe, of a receptacle extending horizontally therefrom and opening thercto,-and otherwise closed throughout, said receptacle having pivoted therein a float adapted to move in a generally vertical direction between the walls of the receptacle, a magnet permanently mounted upon the receptacle with its polar ends projecting through the receptacle, an armature for said magnetupon the float, adapted when the float is in one extreme of its mo ement to substantially short circuit the polesof the magnet, a second armature mounted outside of the receptacle movable toward and from the magnet at right angles to the path of movement of the In testimony whereof we hereunto set ourfirst said armature and arranged to be athands. tracted by the magnet except when the latter is short circuited by the first said armature, a spring for ithdrawing the second said armature from the magnet, and signal- In the presence of ing devices responsive to movement of the GEO. T. MAY, Jr., second said armature. FoRfiE BAIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingwth'e Commissioner of Patents,

Washington. D. O. 

